Ranking Characters Of The Wire: The Law

2. William 'Bunk' Moreland

The Wire
HBO

An incredibly efficient homicide detective that is a rare example of someone who manages to, for the most part, be on the good side of both his colleagues and his superiors. Bunk enjoys drinking competitions with McNulty and sampling fine cigars but, he is also committed to doing good police work and solving his murders lawfully and correctly.

Bunk's banter with McNulty is a highlight of the show and their contrasting world views against the backdrop of their years of friendship makes for compelling and humorous conversations. However, it is his dynamic with stick up man Omar that is the most enthralling of Bunk's relationships.

Although Omar is generally presented as a positive heroic figure on the show and is painted as such by a lot of the characters, Bunk strongly condemns Omar and what he represents. In an incredibly powerful scene, Bunk laments how their old neighbourhood had changed and become more criminal as people like Omar become idolised within the community. It is one of the few times Omar shows some serious regret for his actions.

In this post: 
The Wire
 
Posted On: 
Contributor

Opinionated pop-culture commentator who aspires to be a writer so people can opinionatedly comment on the pop-culture I put out.